Lavender Living

Lavender Living logo

UR’s Lavender Living Community is a student-initiated, thematic, living-learning community designed to provide an affirming space for LGBTQ+ students and their allies within residential life. Our aim is to foster wellness, encourage openness, and support LGBTQ+ community-building initiatives both on and off campus.

Being a part of the Lavender Living Community may include the following: 

  • Community meetings/hangouts/study sessions in the Lavender Living residential lounge (weekly)
  • Communal meals cooked by rotating groups of Lavenders (monthly)
  • LGBTQ+ movie nights (monthly)
  • Service outings to LGBTQ+ local organizations (once/semester)
  • Off-campus outings to an LGBTQ+ event or program (once/semester)
  • Private workshops and meet & greets with LGBTQ+ speakers on campus (once/semester)

Community Trip To New York City

Lavenders will also travel as a community to New York City during Fall Break to visit significant places and museums related to LGBTQ+ history and culture. There is no additional cost to members of the community to participate in the trip.

Some of the possible locations we will visit are: 

  • Stonewall Inn
  • Christopher Park
  • Leslie Lohan Museum of Art
  • New York City AIDS Memorial
  • The LGBT Community Center
  • Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance 
  • Audre Lorde Project (ADP)
  • Lesbian Herstory Archives 
  • Alice Austen House Museum
  • Greenwich Village Waterfront
  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
  • Whitney Museum of American Art 
  • Museum of Sex 

Who can apply? 

  • Students of all genders and sexualities are encouraged to apply. All Lavenders are eligible for gender-flexible housing
  • Rising sophomores, juniors, and senior students are eligible to apply
  • Studying abroad is not a limitation towards participating in this community. Please specify if this is your intention and which semesters you expect to be abroad in your application

How to apply? 

The application process consists of two phases: 

  • Applicants must complete the Themed Community application and answer the specific Lavender Living questions 
  • Applicants will be interviewed by a small group of students and the staff advisor